Ministry urges collaboration to boost OKU registration

KUCHING: Community leaders and heads of villages are urged to collaborate with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and Ministry of Health to raise awareness of the importance of registering persons with disabilities (OKU).

Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said nationwide OKU registration remains low at only 1.8 percent

Nancy (centre) officiates the National OKU Day 2023 while others look on.

“One of the reasons is the lack of awareness of the importance of registering them. Secondly, those living in rural areas may not have the same ease of access to the registration centres.

“Furthermore, prior to registration, they need to get official diagnosis from doctors, which can pose a challenge for those residing in rural areas due to far distance and lack of qualified doctors, thus being left behind.

“Therefore, I suggest for community leaders under respective district offices to take care of the village residents. Not only in Sarawak but nationally,” she said.

She said this after officiating at the National OKU Day 2023 at Padang Merdeka here today (Dec 3).

Addressing the delayed registration of disabled individuals, Nancy stressed the need to enhance awareness of government programmes.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that communities are informed about registration opportunities and support and assistance available to them.

“With the availability of the internet, the public have access to our website to see what help is available for the community,” she added.

Moreover, she said a significant challenge is the underutilisation of rehabilitation institutions, resulting in some OKU needing to be sent to Kuala Lumpur for rehabilitation.

Some of the community games in progress.

Participants during the Fun Walk.

Photos: Ramidi Subari

“If facilities are lacking here but already present in the peninsula, we cannot let the situation persist. The ministry is diligently working, and God willing, every effort will be made to establish a facility in Kuching first,” she assured.

This year, Nancy’s ministry through the JKM organised the National OKU Day 2023 Celebration under the theme ‘Membangun OKU MADANI’, which saw the participation of over 1,000 individuals and around 200 OKUs.

This occasion also marks a milestone as it is the first time being held in Sarawak, with previous editions held in Kuala Lumpur.